The pros, cons, and reasons for the UK's switch from the F-35B to the F-35C have been discussed ad nauseum on other threads, but there's little denying that the MoD's shortsightedness will inevitably result in a 65,000 ton paperweight from a TACAIR standpoint. There is also reason to believe that the switch will also end up costing substantially more than the quick savings achieved with a smaller number of fighters.
Quote:
"We have to accept that CATOBAR operations impose a significant training penalty, it is not a skill one can pick up in a few days and must be constantly practiced to remain safe. With STOVL, the exact is true, land based pilots can quickly transition to all weather carrier operations with relatively little training, this being proven many many times over the years. Whilst the latest synthetic training systems may reduce this burden somewhat it is not likely for some time that it will be eliminated...
The switch to CATOBAR or F35C is still a controversial decision. The reason why the F35B was the preferred option for a decade or more was ALWAYS about more than just the aircraft itself. If the only factor was the aircraft itself then the B is possibly the least best solution, it costs more, has less performance in all areas, is more complex and difficult to maintain. The MoD always knew this to be the case, so why would anyone want STOVL? Quite simply, because it offered the most flexible option for the lowest cost, across the whole of the defence sphere, not just on an aircraft by aircraft basis...
CATOBAR operations also means that to protect the aircraft and pilot against a fuel intensive missed landing (bolters) there is a means to provide fuel to them. STOVL aircraft do not suffer from this problem and therefore a buddy buddy refuelling system was never specified...
CVF is not a fast ship, but with F35B this didn’t really matter, with F35C and CATOBAR, speed is a vital aspect. The risks of being unable to launch the F35C because of being unable to achieve a high enough speed, would be a tad embarrassing."
There, Spaz should like that.
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/07/that-nao-report/
The question for this thread is: what should the UK do with its first QE-class ship? (Humorous creativity welcomed)  |
Search
Register
Private Messages
Forum Guidelines
